Jayde Ketelaar
Mr. Patin
(Honors) English 10 – Period 2
13 May 2015
Living A Selfless Life
The ordinary human makes about 35,000 choices a day, we choose what we will wear, eat, do, and so many other things. What if the ability to make these choices was taken away from you? In Lois Lowry’s The Giver, the ability for people to make choices for themselves has been basically revoked. The people of these communities are living a perfect life as they see it, but in reality it is a life full of grey and sameness. Jonas, the chosen receiver of memory, decided that this was something that needed to change. Through living a life of grey and sameness, Jonas realized that having the ability to make his own life choices was something his community was seriously lacking. He realized that the ability to choose where life led, was his own. Everyone should have the ability to choose.
At the beginning of his adventure, Jonas is very courageous and confident. He and the Giver came up with an excellent plan to find Elsewhere. Jonas wanted to give the people the abilities that he had been given as the receiver. He wanted to show everyone things like color, feelings, love, and the ability to make choices. The Giver was in agreement with this and believed in Jonas and his capability to complete the quest. Along the way, many things occurred that Jonas had not planned or prepared for; at times he became quite anxious and scared at what might be to come, but he remained courageous and conquered through the trying events of the journey. Jonas truly shows that being able to make his own choices helped him to decide his own fate.
Jonas conceptualized an idea of his future, he pondered the thought of a family, a spouse, he thinks of the things that his family will not experience, the things he will not be able to share with them. He finds that the things that he has, he will not be able to share with them. The thought of this saddens him as he questions The Giver of the rules he will face “‘So if I have a spouse, and maybe children, I will have to hide the books from them?’ The Giver nodded. ‘I wasn't permitted to share the books with my spouse, thats correct’” (129). Jonas wants the ability to share the things he has with his family, he wants the freedom that the community has not given him. Jonas is set out to change this.
As life continues, the Giver proceeds to tell Jonas about the things that have been concealed from the people of the communities, the choices that have been taken away from them. This angers him past the point of return, he shares his feelings with the Giver. “‘But I want them!’ Jonas said angrily. ‘It isn’t fair that nothing has color.’ The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. ‘Explain what you mean?’ ‘Well.. If everything's the same then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!’” (123). Jonas began to realize just how many choices had been stolen from him and the people of the communities. He decided this needed to change. Jonas seems to almost mock the community leaders as he says. "Oh, I see what you mean. It wouldn't matter for a new child's toy. But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own" (17). He states the fact that his choices are not his own, the communities have total control, but this is something that is not fair or humane. How can they live a life with no choices? How can they be happy when they don’t even know what the feeling of happiness truly is?
As we can see, we are all truly lucky to have the ability to make choices of our own. This novel brings a very eye opening experience. This gives us a chance to realize just how privileged we are in our lives and how crucial the ability to choose really is. Jonas was determined to make the life of his community a better one, even if this required putting his, and his family, in danger. Jonas was selfless enough to risk his own life to benefit everyone else's showing just how important something such as having the ability to choose really is.
Mr. Patin
(Honors) English 10 – Period 2
13 May 2015
Living A Selfless Life
The ordinary human makes about 35,000 choices a day, we choose what we will wear, eat, do, and so many other things. What if the ability to make these choices was taken away from you? In Lois Lowry’s The Giver, the ability for people to make choices for themselves has been basically revoked. The people of these communities are living a perfect life as they see it, but in reality it is a life full of grey and sameness. Jonas, the chosen receiver of memory, decided that this was something that needed to change. Through living a life of grey and sameness, Jonas realized that having the ability to make his own life choices was something his community was seriously lacking. He realized that the ability to choose where life led, was his own. Everyone should have the ability to choose.
At the beginning of his adventure, Jonas is very courageous and confident. He and the Giver came up with an excellent plan to find Elsewhere. Jonas wanted to give the people the abilities that he had been given as the receiver. He wanted to show everyone things like color, feelings, love, and the ability to make choices. The Giver was in agreement with this and believed in Jonas and his capability to complete the quest. Along the way, many things occurred that Jonas had not planned or prepared for; at times he became quite anxious and scared at what might be to come, but he remained courageous and conquered through the trying events of the journey. Jonas truly shows that being able to make his own choices helped him to decide his own fate.
Jonas conceptualized an idea of his future, he pondered the thought of a family, a spouse, he thinks of the things that his family will not experience, the things he will not be able to share with them. He finds that the things that he has, he will not be able to share with them. The thought of this saddens him as he questions The Giver of the rules he will face “‘So if I have a spouse, and maybe children, I will have to hide the books from them?’ The Giver nodded. ‘I wasn't permitted to share the books with my spouse, thats correct’” (129). Jonas wants the ability to share the things he has with his family, he wants the freedom that the community has not given him. Jonas is set out to change this.
As life continues, the Giver proceeds to tell Jonas about the things that have been concealed from the people of the communities, the choices that have been taken away from them. This angers him past the point of return, he shares his feelings with the Giver. “‘But I want them!’ Jonas said angrily. ‘It isn’t fair that nothing has color.’ The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. ‘Explain what you mean?’ ‘Well.. If everything's the same then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!’” (123). Jonas began to realize just how many choices had been stolen from him and the people of the communities. He decided this needed to change. Jonas seems to almost mock the community leaders as he says. "Oh, I see what you mean. It wouldn't matter for a new child's toy. But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own" (17). He states the fact that his choices are not his own, the communities have total control, but this is something that is not fair or humane. How can they live a life with no choices? How can they be happy when they don’t even know what the feeling of happiness truly is?
As we can see, we are all truly lucky to have the ability to make choices of our own. This novel brings a very eye opening experience. This gives us a chance to realize just how privileged we are in our lives and how crucial the ability to choose really is. Jonas was determined to make the life of his community a better one, even if this required putting his, and his family, in danger. Jonas was selfless enough to risk his own life to benefit everyone else's showing just how important something such as having the ability to choose really is.